Hawaii Absentee Ballot Guide

Hawaii Absentee Ballot Guide

Military and Overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation. Long Distance Voter's information should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Important Deadlines

Voter Registration Form: Received at least 29 days before the election

Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election

Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by close of polls on Election Day

How to vote by absentee ballot

Register to vote

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Tool. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.

You can also download and complete the Hawaii Voter Registration Form. Sign and mail the completed forms to your County Clerk. The address is on the form. (You can use your Voter registration for to request permanent absentee voting status.)

NOTE: All Hawaii registrants must include their full Social Security number on their voter registration forms. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must indicate this on your form. If you have a Social Security number, and you do not print it on the form, your voter registration form will be rejected.

Verify your voter registration

Once your registration form has been received, your county clerk will mail a Notice of Voter Registration and Address Confirmation (NVRAC) card to your Hawaii address. If this card is undeliverable at that address, you will be required to complete a Registration Affidavit form (RAF) before voting is allowed.

If you did not receive notification that your registration was processed, you can either verify your registration online or contact your county clerk. Check our our Verify Voter Registration page for more information.

Make sure you're eligble to vote by absentee ballot

Good news! Any registered voter can vote absentee by absentee ballot in Hawaii.

Apply for your absentee ballot

Download Hawaii's Application for Absentee Ballot, fill it out and mail it to your County Clerk. The address is listed on the form. You must put your full Social Security number on your absentee ballot application, or your application will be rejected.

Receive, complete and return your voted ballot

The absentee ballot is pretty straight forward. Complete the ballot, sign where indicated and mail it back to your County Clerk. Your absentee ballot must be received by the close of polls on election day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to provide ID when I register to vote in Hawaii?

If you are a first time voter you must include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form. If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include a current and valid photo identification that shows your name (driver's license, US passport, student ID, military ID, work ID, tribal ID, etc) OR a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that shows your name and address.

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot in Hawaii?

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted in Hawaii at least once. If you are a first time voter and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, you must include it with your absentee ballot application or with your voted absentee ballot. Acceptable forms of ID include a current and valid photo identification that shows your name (driver's license, US passport, student ID, military ID, work ID, tribal ID, etc) OR a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that shows your name and address.

You will remain on the list of Permanent Absentee Voters unless you fail to return a voter ballot by 6:00 p.m. election day in both the primary and general election, register to vote in another jurisdiction, or fail to keep your voter registration updated.